The Child Protection Coordination Office is the point of contact for specialist child protection issues in Wolfsburg and is aimed at all people who are in contact with families, children and young people on a professional or voluntary basis. It does not provide assistance in individual cases, but does provide information on suitable services and facilities.
Child protection coordination has the following tasks:
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Planning and implementing further education and training courses
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Networking those involved in child protection and promoting the exchange of information
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Further development of quality standards in child protection in educational institutions
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Conceptual participation in cross-professional cooperation agreements
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General information about child protection work and existing help and support services
Notification in the event of suspected child endangerment
If you have noticed significant indications that a child's welfare may be at risk, please seek professional advice from an experienced child protection specialist to assess the risk and decide on further steps. To notify the General Social Services / Youth Welfare Office, please use the child endangerment report form. You can find the contact details and further information about the General Social Service on the Social Service website.
The Child Protection Coordination Office offers training and continuing education to educational institutions and other interested groups in Wolfsburg on the protection mandate in the event of child welfare risks. Basic knowledge about child protection is imparted:
- Legal basics
- Forms and signs of endangerment
- Procedures
- Involvement of parents, children and adolescents
- Cooperation with institutions and counseling centers
- Overview of the most important assistance for families in Wolfsburg
The aim of the events is to sensitize participants to child protection and to give them more confidence in taking action to fulfill their duty to protect. There is also an opportunity for participants to present their own case studies. The content and schedule of the training sessions are tailored to the needs of the individual facility.
The Youth division founded the Child Protection Working Group in September 2010. It is an association of representatives from various fields of work and different professions who are in contact with children and young people and their families in their professional context.
The aim is to create a close network of local stakeholders in child protection with a regular, intensive exchange of experiences. The aim is to promote understanding of other professional roles and provide qualified support in individual cases. Because only if all relevant agencies know who is responsible for what and where each other's boundaries lie can they cooperate effectively to protect children.
The members of the Child Protection Working Group meet four times a year to discuss and exchange information on current developments in child protection.
The institutions and services linked in the child protection network currently include
- General Social Services of the City of Wolfsburg
- AWO family counseling
- Diakonie - socio-educational family support
- Dialog (Balance/Courage/BISS)
- Drobs drug and youth counseling center
- Parents' school at the clinic
- Educational counseling center of the city of Wolfsburg
- Protestant family education center
- Evangelical Lutheran church district - daycare center counseling
- Wolfsburg family court
- Wolfsburg women's shelter
- Early help center of the city of Wolfsburg
- Health department - pediatric and youth medical service of the city of Wolfsburg
- Youth support service of the city of Wolfsburg
- Children and youth office of the city of Wolfsburg
- Social psychiatric service of the city of Wolfsburg
- Stadtjugendring Wolfsburg e. V.
- Representation of the pediatricians
- ZEUS - Social Pediatric Center of the Wolfsburg Clinic
- Specialist advice on early childhood education from the City of Wolfsburg
- Social Affairs Department of the City of Wolfsburg
- Children's clinic at Wolfsburg Hospital
- Child and Youth Protection Wolfsburg e.V.
- Streetlife
- Wolfsburg police
The assessment of a risk to the well-being of a child is a complex process and can be emotionally very stressful. Professionals from educational, social and medical fields who are in professional contact with children, adolescents and their families have a legal right to advice from an "insofar experienced specialist". The legal basis is §§ 8a, b SGB VIII (Child and Youth Welfare Act) and § 4 KKG (Act on Cooperation and Information in Child Protection).
"Insofar experienced professionals" have specific knowledge, methodological procedures and practical experience in the assessment of risk situations. They provide advice on all issues relating to the best interests of the child:
- Assessment of the risk of endangerment after perception of (weighty) indications.
- Exploration of resources and development potentials
- Preparation and follow-up of meetings with guardians
- Dealing with the child or adolescent at risk
- Development of a concept for help and protection, if necessary with the involvement of other institutions
- Involvement of the youth welfare office
- Clarification of responsibilities, procedural issues
- Weighing up the requirements of confidentiality and child protection.
The case consultation can take place as an individual, team or management consultation. If necessary, a follow-up meeting is also possible. The consultation is free of charge and is conducted anonymously.
The professionals with in-depth experience have formed a working group for the exchange of information and experience as well as anonymous case discussions. Further interested parties are welcome at any time. The members meet quarterly. Information on the current dates can be obtained from the Child Protection Coordination.
City of Wolfsburg
Child protection coordination
Svenja Loock
Youth Division, Prevention Department
Braunschweiger Street 12
38440 Wolfsburg
Phone: 05361 28-1480
E-mail: svenja.loock@stadt.wolfsburg.de